A LISS vicar has spoken out after callous thugs vandalised a gravestone at St MaryÕs Churchyard.

The Rev Canon John Pinder said the incident had been very upsetting for the family and the church.

Heartless vandals smashed a perspex covering and ripped out a model scrambler bike that had been cemented into a headstone.

Mr Pinder said: ÒI have been to look at the headstone. It has been upsetting. It was a sad and serious piece of vandalism.Ó

He added: ÒIt is very upsetting for the family and the church, perhaps even more so because it is the sort of thing you do not expect in Liss.Ó

The headstone marked the grave of Gerald William Daniels who died in 1967, which also contains the ashes of his father Les Daniels, who died in 2001.

Mr Pinder added: ÒGenerally speaking we do not have too much trouble in the churchyard, most people respect it. It is visited by a lot of people who come to tend to the graves and we do a lot to maintain them.Ó